A kangaroo was hailed a hero today after helping rescue a farmer who suffered head injuries when hit by a falling branch.

A kangaroo was hailed a hero today after helping rescue a farmer who suffered head injuries when hit by a falling branch.

In a drama reminiscent of the old TV series Skippy, the partially-blind pet kangaroo banged on the door of the family's house in Gippsland, south east Australia, after discovering the farmer lying unconscious in a field. Paramedic Eddie Wright said Len Richards, 52, was checking his property for damage following a storm when he was struck by a falling branch and knocked unconscious.

The kangaroo had been adopted by the family about 10 years ago, after authorities let them care for the wild animal because it was blind in one eye.

The kangaroo alerted the family to where he was and went and sat down next to him.